Sustainability

for us, this means bringing the social, ecological and economic aspects in line with each other. We assume responsibility, not only for our economic actions, but also for the people and the environment involved in this. As brand manufacturer, and in particular as a family company, this is a matter close to our hearts and is a requirement to be successful in the long-term.

On focus

We became a member of Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) in November 2016. FWF is an independent, non-profit organisation that works with companies and manufacturers to improve labour conditions in the textile industry. This multi-stakeholder initiative is supported by business associations, trade unions and non-government organisations. ...

The Social Report 2016, published in March 2017, gives extensive insights into engelbert strauss's commitment for a pleasant working environment at the production sites. One focus of the report is on the progress made in recent years. A comparison of the latest assessments by external, independent auditors with those of previous years shows: all partner businesses that have been repeatedly audited showed positive developments. ...

The bluesign® system not only evaluates product safety, but also environmental protection and occupational health and safety throughout the textile production chain. Instead of just testing the end product, the bluesign® system stipulates that components and procedures be examined at the product planning stage. This helps to eliminate the use of potentially hazardous substances from the very beginning. We have been a bluesign® system partner since 2013. The aim of this partnership is to develop save products which are monitored across the entire production process. The use of substances that are hazardous to the environment, climate and health are categorically excluded. Within the scope of this partnership we are consulting bluesign technologies in regards to optimising the safety of substances used in our products. Various textiles that correspond with the strict bluesign® criteria are already used in our clothing. Many of our production partners for products or materials are also ...

engelbert strauss supports the Cotton made in Africa initiative and thereby the sustainable cultivation of cotton in Africa. The aim of the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative is to improve the living and working conditions for African cotton farmers long term. In Sub-Saharan Africa around 20 million people make a living from the farming of cotton, which is one of Africa's most important export goods. Inefficient cultivation of cotton, resulting in low yields, combined with heavily fluctuating world market prices and high costs for seeds and fertilisers, often forces many small-scale farmers even further into poverty. CmiA works on the principles of a social business: an entrepreneurial approach, which is aimed at improving the living conditions of many African cotton farmers. It is therefore building an alliance of international textile corporations, which will specifically use sustainably produced cotton on the world market for further processing. The Aid by Trade Foundation, ...

Carbon neutral despatch of parcels

Numerous parcels travel hundreds of kilometres every day to get from our logistics centres to our customers. Since the beginning of 2014 the vast majority of all parcels have been sent carbon neutral via the parcel service GLS. As part of the ThinkGreen initiative of our courier company GLS, the generated CO₂ emissions are calculated according to a certified ...

Renewable energy

We procure 100% of electricity for all our business premises from renewable sources. Photovoltaic systems are in operation on the roofs of several of our business premises and workwearstores®. Additionally electricity we need has been acquired from regenerative energy from the municipal utilities (hydropower) since 2016. Also during the planning of our site ...

Products

Highest quality standards

In addition to function and design, our understanding of product quality also includes aspects of safety, environmental sustainability and fairness. We therefore place emphasis on those aspects both during the development of our own collections and the compilation of our product ranges. As part of the continuous improvement of our products we are also looking for materials, which are produced in a more sustainable fashion.

We demand the highest quality for our products – this also includes any substances used. The standards for our production partners in regards to the regulation of hazardous substances, are specified within the engelbert strauss Restricted Substances List (RSL). The list contains legal requirements such as REACh and standards like OEKO-TEX® standard 100 and is in many cases considerably stricter ...

Many of our cotton items are made of organic cotton. In contrast to conventional cotton, the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers is prohibited for the cultivation of organic cotton. Due to the natural fertilisation, resulting in a higher humus content, the soil can store more water and CO₂. The risk of erosion is also reduced ...

We are one of the first manufacturers on the market, to offer workwear made from recycled polyester. Polyester, a plastic compound made from the limited resource crude oil, can be recycled and reused for a wide range of applications. Through polyester recycling we are avoiding the use of new raw material and also reduce the amount of residual ...

The bluesign® system not only evaluates product safety, but also environmental protection and occupational health and safety throughout the textile production chain. Instead of just testing the end product, the bluesign® system stipulates that components and procedures be examined at the product ...

engelbert strauss supports the Cotton made in Africa initiative and thereby the sustainable cultivation of cotton in Africa. The aim of the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative is to improve the living and working conditions for African cotton farmers long term. In Sub-Saharan Africa around 20 ...

Production

Working in partnership

We manufacture our products in Europe and also in Asia and Africa - depending on the product category and specialisation of our partner companies, thereby offering long-term employment to many thousands of people. We have a bond of trust based on years of collaboration with many of our production partners.

We carefully select our international partners and suppliers. A pleasant and humane working environment at the production sites, as well as a considerate approach to nature are fundamental requirements.

We became a member of Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) in November 2016. FWF is an independent, non-profit organisation that works with companies and manufacturers to improve labour conditions in the textile industry. This multi-stakeholder initiative is supported by business associations, trade unions and non-government organisations. ...

Humanity for us is an important company value and the basis for a successful cooperation. Furthermore we are convinced that long-term business success for engelbert strauss as well as all associated production partners and suppliers can only be achieved through a considerate approach to nature and ...

We impose high standards on our production partners in terms of social standards and environmental protection. To implement this in every aspect is not easy for all of them. We therefore choose new business partners carefully and assist existing ones in their further development in line with our ...

The Social Report 2016, published in March 2017, gives extensive insights into engelbert strauss's commitment for a pleasant working environment at the production sites. One focus of the report is on the progress made in recent years. A comparison of the latest assessments by external, independent auditors with those of previous years shows: ...

We manufacture our products in Europe, Asia and Africa, depending on the product category. On close inspection, each region in which we operate has its own professional key area and its special expertise, which we will explain on this page. Some manufacturing sites are situated in developing and ...

Environment

Environmental awareness in all company departments

Particularly, as a family business we would like to leave future generations the same living conditions and resources that are available to us today. This environmental commitment we regard as a continuous and natural corporate responsibility. Step by step we promote new environmentally sustainable developments and ideas, from the careful selection of the raw materials to the virtual product manufacturing process through to logistics and the disposal of packaging.

As a brand manufacturer our contribution to the protection of the climate is of particular importance to us. Climate protection for us means to not generate CO₂ emissions in the first instance wherever possible and to reduce or offset them if they are generated. Our emphasis in logistics, transport and business premises is to adopt more climate friendly approaches. ...

At engelbert strauss we acknowledge our responsibility for the welfare of animals within our sphere of activities and would like to promote their respectful handling. If any of our products contain elements of animal origin, we require our manufacturing partners to adhere to our animal welfare ...

The economical and efficient use of natural resources is a necessary requirement for the business of engelbert strauss. To that effect we expect our international manufacturing partners to do the same by continuously optimising their processes and integrating environmental aspects into product ...

Society

Commitment locally and worldwide

Above and beyond our entrepreneurial activities, we would like to make useful contributions to society. We have decided to focus our social commitments on education projects in developing and emerging countries: in particular we would like to make access to education easier for children of workers at our manufacturing sites, for example through the construction of school buildings and providing teaching materials. We do not have a fixed yearly budget for the money required for these projects, but decide the number of projects to support at our own discretion and personal beliefs.

engelbert strauss supports the Cotton made in Africa initiative and thereby the sustainable cultivation of cotton in Africa. The aim of the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative is to improve the living and working conditions for African cotton farmers long term. In Sub-Saharan Africa around 20 million people make a living from the farming of cotton, which is one of Africa's most important ...

For over ten years now engelbert strauss have been financially supporting the Kaliiro community in the diocese MASAKA/ Uganda. This has enabled the construction of teaching, accommodation and sanitary facilities, as well as training of teaching staff. More than 20,000 people live in this settlement ...

engelbert strauss support the organisation VAVA in Vietnam and thereby contributing to the education of children affected by Agent Orange. Since 2004 the Vietnamese Association for the Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA) represents the interests of the victims and organises charitable events to raise ...

engelbert strauss funded the construction of a new secondary school near its manufacturing site in Laos. The school project was initiated by the organisation 'Angels for Children' (AfC). Angels for Children (AfC) help children in Laos to get a school education and organise the construction and ...

The focus of engelbert strauss’ social commitments are on education projects. One of them is the inclusive primary school Antonius von Padua in Fulda. The grand opening of the school took place in November 2015. The costs of the new construction were covered completely by engelbert strauss. Children both with and without disabilities are now able to learn here ...